CIVIL RIGHTS STATEMENT/NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
Individuals eligible for receiving services from HCBS Provider are protected by various laws, regulations, rules and policies against unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, age, sex, and nation origin.
What is discrimination?
Discrimination is a direct action, whether purposeful or not, which results in unequal treatment of people. Persons cannot because of their race, color, religion, disability, age, sex, national origin or political affiliation:
Be denied or delayed any service, aid or other benefit provided under HCBS Provider program.
Be subjected to segregation or disparate treatment in a HCBS Provider program.
Be given services in humiliating or embarrassing ways.
Be provided services using different rules to decide who will get help.
Be limited in the use of buildings, rooms or other space in a way that denies individual participation or access.
Be denied access to a service because building or their facilities are not physically accessible to persons with disabilities or because there was no means of effective communication with the service provider.
The key words are: “because of.” If you are denied or delayed equal service and you think it was because of your race, color, religion, disability, age, gender or national origin, you may have been subjected to unlawful discrimination. There is a difference between lawful and unlawful denial or delayed of benefits and/or services. Persons may be denied benefits and/or services if they do not meet the eligibility requirements. This is not unlawful, nor discriminatory.
Persons with disabilities:
It is the policy of HCBS Provider to comply with all relevant and applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Those individuals who have a hearing or visual impairment are also protected against discrimination. Accommodations may include providing qualified interpreters, oral translation and/or written translation of documents. Accommodation will be provided free of charge to eligible individuals.
How do I file a complaint?
If you believe that you have been denied or delayed services for which you are eligible because of your race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability or age, you must file your complaint within 6 months of the date on which the incident or treatment happened. If the complaint is submitted in writing, you must include the time, place, persons involved, the nature of the complaint, evidence of discrimination, your name, address and phone number.
Should you become aware of an act or acts of DISCRIMINATION, you must immediately contact HCBS Provider at 610-453-5005.
You may also be informed of the procedures for submitting client complaints, voice complaints and recommend changes in the policies and services on the company website at www.co-opprovider.com. If dissatisfied with the outcome, you may also submit the complaint to the Pennsylvania Department of Health or any outside representative of the client’s choice. The expression of such complaints by the client or client designee shall be free from interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal.
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Room 526 Health and Welfare Building
625 Forster Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0701
(717)787-1816
Department of Health Division of Home Health Telephone: 877-724-3258
Additional: http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?A=189&;Q=245787
Department of Health Division of Home Health complaint Hot Line is 1-866-826-3644
Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Pennsylvania Department of Aging
555 Walnut Street, 5th floor
Harrisburg, Pa. 17101-1919
Telephone: (717) 783-8975